The Princess's Substitute - Chapter 3

Early the next morning, the Northern Qiang woman official came with a message: the khan would hold a belated welcome feast for the princess that evening.

“He barely bothered with me when I arrived. Who’s he putting on this feast for now?” the princess grumbled.

“A slap, then a sweet to make up for it.” Chunlan slipped quietly to her side. “The rest of the royal family will be there too. Let me accompany you, Your Highness.”

She took the comb from my hand and arranged the last coil of the princess’s hair.

The princess assented, then pointed at me. “Xiazhu, you come too.”

My hands stilled over the clothes I was arranging. There was nothing to do but say yes.

The Qiang held their great feasts beneath the open sky, with Mount Wu stretching beyond them and the grassland running to the horizon.

The khan occupied the seat of honor, his face hidden behind the torchlight.

A guard announced the arrival of the princess of Great Liang. Countless eyes turned upon us.

“Ah, isn’t this the woman who climbed into my bed last night?” The khan narrowed his eyes with malicious amusement. “So she’s the princess of Great Liang.”

The men cheered and jeered. The women laughed aloud.

Shaking with fury, the princess turned to leave.

Chunlan caught her arm. “If you retreat now, Your Highness, you will only disgrace Liang and give the khan an excuse to turn on us.”

“Sending me here was what disgraced Liang!” the princess shouted. “I want to go back to Bianjing! I want Father to send troops to wipe these barbarians out!”

I nearly clapped a hand over her mouth in terror. “Since we’re already here, wouldn’t it be better to take the opportunity to secure your position as queen?”

“My position as queen?” She turned to me.

“Exactly,” Chunlan said quickly. “If they continue pretending not to understand, it won’t be too late to ask them to dissolve the marriage.”

When the princess finally made up her mind and walked toward the throne, Chunlan and I exchanged a glance. We both felt our necks.

Our heads would stay on for another night.

The princess repeated Chunlan’s prepared words, one deliberate phrase at a time. She declared Liang’s sincerity and reminded the khan of the promises he had made in his marriage letter.

He regarded her with an unreadable expression. Standing behind her, I could feel cold sweat trickling down my spine.

“So composed in honor and disgrace alike. Truly a phoenix destined to bring peace beneath heaven.” A woman’s voice broke the silence. “They say Princess Fengning was born holding a golden phoenix. May we see it for ourselves?”

The speaker was Saihan, princess of Western Liang and consort to the second prince, Zhe Du.

“What, afraid I’m an impostor?” the princess retorted.

Saihan smiled sweetly. “It wouldn’t be the first impostor you’ve sent us.”

With a cold snort, the princess drew the gold pendant out from her collar and waved it at her.

It was small and simple, its shape flowing naturally into a phoenix with outstretched wings.

Admiring murmurs rose around us. Saihan pursed her lips and said no more.

The Qiang worshiped Eternal Heaven. They were even fonder than the people of Liang of tales of auspicious signs sent from above.

The khan’s expression softened. He rose with the princess and lifted his wine cup to the sky. Hundreds upon hundreds of Qiang dropped to their knees.

I was still standing there in a daze when Chunlan clicked her tongue and hauled me down.

After a lengthy speech in his own language, the khan poured his wine onto the earth. He removed the thumb ring from his hand and placed it on the princess’s.

“The people of Liang are full of tricks. They never send us a real princess. I’m glad you came.”

“From this day on, you are my queen.” He took her hand. “I hope you will bring good fortune to Northern Qiang, like a true phoenix.”

The princess forced the corners of her mouth upward.

Later, warm with wine, the khan put his arm around her and headed back to the royal tent.

Chunlan hurried after them, but the princess waved her away. “Xiazhu will attend me from now on.”

I passed Chunlan’s indignant stare with a bitter smile. How I wished someone would steal this “fine duty” from me.